Mirtazepine (Avanza)

Hi there is there anyone that takes this Antidepressant? If so, would you please tell me what your experience of it as an Antidepressant has been? TIA.

Hi there,

I take mirtazapine as an antidepressant and have found it good. I tried 8 other antidepressants before I found that this works for me. The only downside is it seems to flatten emotions, and adds a bit of weight gain. But put that into perspective and it's worth it. How are you finding it? Lizzie

Hi Lizzie and thanks for replying to my post. Unfortunately this drug hasn't been that successful for me and like you I have tried many antidepressants over the years. I'm worried that there's none left for me to try which is a scary thought. Lizzie I'm pleased that it is working for you though!

I'm so sorry avanza didn't work for you...you're right, it's such a scary thought knowing you've tried so many drugs yet nothing has worked. After trying so many myself, my psychiatrist explained that avanza as well as many other antidepressants can work to help you do everyday things like get out of bed and eat but it can't make you happy. That just made me think, well....if it can't make me happy then I don't want to get out of bed or eat! Have you tried augmenting your antidepressant with mood stabilisers? I tried quetiapine and lithium, but I got awful side-effects so wasn't for me. My psychiatrist suggested ritalin as an augmentor...ever heard of that?
Take care! Lizzie.

Hi Lizzie thanks again for your post. I'm off to the Doctor this morning to discuss my depression and the Avanza. I heard from a Psychiatrist that sometimes (like you have mentioned) adding a mood stabiliser may help the effects of the Antidepressant in alleviating depressive symptoms...I really don't know what I will do. I feel a bit overwhelmed about everything at the moment. I'll go to my Doctor and see what she suggests. Fingers crossed!

good luck becks

I'm on Avanze, been on 7 months now 30mg a day. It helps me sleep. Aki==lso I take 150mg of Effexor the two are meant to balanace each other out. To me yet again nothing seems to work for me.

Thanks Mylife for your post, it's good to hear from you. LC I'm sorry to hear that your meds aren't helping you as much as you'd like. I hope that things improve soon. I am on simlar meds to you now-45mgs Avanza and 150mgs of Effexor. Oh what fun the medical carousel is...not. Fingers crossed that the change may be a good one for me.

ha I have just started this med about two weeks ago and was wondering how lond it took for it to kick in for you, I'm so scared that it wont work

I take 90 mg of Avanza, they dissolve on your tounge and have an orange flavour - not sure if you can get this sort in NZ? If I wasn't taking them I'd be a bit of a mess.

Hello, I've just joined this site. I am on Effexor220mg a day and Seroquel and have been on Avanza for 3 weeks now. Am having what I think are side effects? Huge appetite gain, tongue feels larger and for the last 10 days have had difficulty breathing (like asthma). Has anyone had similar experience?

Yep the weight gain was huge 10kg in a very short time you need to talk to someone staight away about the breathing that can not be good. hope you ok

Thanks mumtothree for your advise. I'm off to my medical centre tomorrow as I've been feeling awful today. Roll on the next bright idea my doctor has,

Here is the Medsafe NZ Consumer Medicines Information Sheet for Avanza if you’ve not already got a copy.
http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Consumers/cmi/a/avanza.htm

The Link for Efexor if anyone wants it, is
http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Consumers/cmi/e/Efexor-xr.pdf

Take care,

Paddy.